Shah Rukh has enjoyed a strong start to 2023
Shah Rukh Khan has topped the 2023 TIME100 reader poll, in which readers voted for those they felt most deserved a spot on the annual list of the most influential people.
Noteworthy figures also featured on the poll included actress Michelle Yeoh, athlete Serena Williams, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
But after more than 1.2 million votes were cast, SRK topped the list, earning four per cent of the vote.
Shah Rukh has enjoyed a strong start to 2023, with his comeback film Pathaan breaking box office records and crossing the Rs. 1,000 Crore-mark.
He is also a producer and co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Second place went to the Iranian women protesting for greater freedoms from the country’s regime, garnering three per cent of the vote.
Protesters took to the streets of cities around Iran after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was killed at the hands of the country’s “morality police” in September 2022 for allegedly wearing her hijab too loosely.
They were named TIME’s 2022 Heroes of the Year and also won 2022’s Person of the Year reader poll.
They were followed by healthcare workers, who came in third place with two per cent of the vote.
Healthcare workers have been at the forefront of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the United States, around 18 million people worked throughout the pandemic to help others.
The pressures of caring for patients in difficult conditions have taken a toll, in a survey conducted from June to September 2020, healthcare workers overwhelmingly reported feeling stress, anxiety, burnout and exhaustion.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle each earned about 1.9% of the vote.
The Duke of Sussex made headlines in January 2023 after the release of his memoir Spare, which recounted monumental moments ranging from Princess Diana’s death in 1997 to Queen Elizabeth’s death in September 2022.
He is also known for founding the Invictus Games, an international sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick service people.
Meanwhile, former actress Meghan now hosts her podcast Archetypes, where her mission is to “investigate, dissect, and subvert the labels that try to hold women back”.
She previously narrated the Disney documentary Elephants and has been an advocate for anti-racism and women’s rights.
The couple have also launched the non-profit Archewell Foundation, as well as Archewell Productions, which has a creative partnership with Netflix.
Shah Rukh Khan also beat the likes of Lionel Messi, who ranked fifth with 1.8% of the vote.
The footballing icon won the World Cup in 2022, adding his numerous accolades including seven Ballon d’Or awards.
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